September 13/99 11:34 am - Trans-Canada Final Story

Posted by Editor on 09/13/99

The final stage of the Trans-Canada Tour, and a new stage winner and final overall leader. Michael Rich (Gerolsteiner) took the final tenth stage time trial, but Guido Trentin (Vini Caldirola) overtook Jean-Cyril Robin (Francaise des Jeux) to take the title of winner for the first Trans-Canada Tour.

"We drove the course the day before, and thought it was flat.", said Rich. "But actually racing the course was much hillier than we expected." Despite his comments, Rich was the smoothest rider out there, and didn't even appear tired at the end of the 25.4 kilometre run in Fort Erie (near Niagara Falls),finishing in a time of30:19. Jan Hruska (Wustenrot-ZVVZ) took second, 11 seconds back of Rich, and American Levi Leipheimer (Saturn) third, at 28.54 seconds. Canadian Eric Wohlberg (Canadian National), finished a disappointing 6th (59.25) - well back for a time trail specialist.

Trentin, second last to head down the starting ramp, began to gain time on Robin immediately. By the halfway point time checks showed that the 23 year old Italian had made up his 27 second deficit, and he continued to gain through the rest of race, eventually finishing fifth on the stage and 50 seconds ahead of Robin. Robin started out fighting for his jersey, but, as he received time checks through the stage, seemed to ... give up. Eventually he was riding with his hands on top of the bars. By contrast, Trentin drove hard all the way to the line.